Marking, printing, and embossing device



Sept. 3, 1929. M. A. G. LUEDTKE ET AL MARKING, PRINTING, AND EMBOSSING DEVICE 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 1 1 W ll/M INVENTORS qrHGLucdt/re 411d Hugo Hoffmqnn TTORNEY Sept. 3, 1929.

M. A. G. LUEDTKE ET AL MARKING, PRINTING, AND EMBOSSING DEVICE Filed June 15, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS. M41146. Lucdtke and $1413 Hoffman/1.

B 5 A; iORNEY Patented Sept. 3, 1929.

MIAX A. G. LUEDTKE, OF WEEHAWKEN, NEW

JERSEY, AND HUGO HOFFMANN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

MARKING, PRINTING, AND EMBOSSING DEVICE.

Application filed June 15, 1926.

This invention relates to marking, printing, and embossing devices.

One object of the invention is the provision oi an improved apparatus of simplified construction for branding. embossing and applyin plain or lustrous letters, ornamental dc signs, monogran s or legenr s on articles made of? leather, leather substitute, fibre, paper, woven textile fabrics and other material which apparatus shall comprise few and simple parts and shall be compact i construction, relatively cheap to manufacture, easy and simple to manipulate, and practical and etlicicnt in operation to a high degree.

A turther object of the invention is the provision. in an apparatus of the character described. of means for adjusting the )rinting' position of type elements relative to the platen simporting the material being printed upon so as to conform to various hicknesses of such material.

Another object of the invention is to pro vide simpler and more cheaply constructed means at securing: together the type element carrying discs with the type elements in proper alignment.

A still turther object to provide an unproved means for retaining the material or article being worked upon in position on the platen.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

Certain teatures herein shown and described are shown, dcr; )L.(l and claimed in our co-pei'iding applications Serial No. 76,595 and Serial No. 86,314 filed in the United States Patent ()fiice on the 21st day of December. and l ebruary 5, 1926, resp ctivcly, and ztccordinp ly not claimed herein.

Yvith the above exception, the invention accordinelv consists in the features of constructiom combination oi elements, and arrangement ot parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope of application will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawing, which is shown one ot' the various possible illustrative embodiments of this invention,

Serial No. 116,076.

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the machine embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 2-2 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view showing the disposition of the parts with the discs partially raised from the platen.

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the improved device showing the frame in raised position.

Fig. l is a bottom view looking in the (lirection of the arrows t'4c in Fig. 3, a portion of the tape being broken away to expose the type elements.

Fig. 5 an enlarged fragmentary sectional view howing the detailed construction of the border mounting.

Fig. 6 is a fragn'ientary portion of the side elevational view of said border mounting.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary side elevational view showing the adjustment means set to print on a comparatively thick article.

Referring in detail to the drawing, 10 denotes an apparatus embodying the invention vhich, as here shown, is constructed particularly for applying identification initials, monograms, designs, or the like to sweat bands of hats, bags, briet' cases and for the like purposes. The apparatus 10 comprises an elongated bed or base 11 having spaced stanchions 12 upstanding at one end therco l, the other end of said base being provided with a raised surface or platen 13 on which rests the article or material M during application of the branding, embossing or orinting as will hereinafter be described. Vhere said material M comprises a sweat band or the like 'rticle, there is provided suitable gripping means such as a pair of spring members 123 positioned to extend along opposite sides of the base 11 adjacent the platen 13 for retaining the article against accidental movemcnt as is shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

A frame 14 is pivotally mounted to swing on a shaft 15 which is fixedly supported between the upper ends 12 of said stanchions. To retain the frame 14: in a normally raised position, the pivoted or rear end thereof may be made with a, bifurcated portion 14c spaced i rcco iodide a suita e coil spring 16 wound on the sha t 15. Said spring 1 is suitably fixed to the shaft 3. preferably by screw 11 securing the mid tion 16 thereof to said shaft, the free ends i" of the spring being extended to the underside of said bifn'catcd portins in 1. The p ing 1%; in .et to urge t ends 16" thereof inst the portioi'is 1% for normally ref we frame 14: in a. raised position and s-crves to automatically return said frame to aised position after having been de- ;7 assed. I i ita e dct.=nt means may be proided for l the upward sw 1g of the lame i-l. is rxalnplc a sin) 1T projci t- .rg from c of the bifurcated portions; ll,

extending hand 15),. dies being attached in an over i arms and handles form a split beari g or support for the ends of the shaft it. (See Figs. 1 and Mounted for rotation in the shaft 18 between the br cket arms 1 1 may be one or more discs comprising, as for example, a set of three consisting of a center disc C, a right disc R and a left disc L. The discs are rotatively adjustable on the shaft 18 for movement vith respect to each other, and each disc carries on the peripheral surface thereof in uniformly spaced relation, suitable die or type elements 20, such as letters of the alphabet. numerals or other indicia, from which may be set up a. wide and varied range of desired combinations of initials, designs, monograms or legends to be applied to the material or article worked upon.

The discs are arranged to be rcleasably secured together so as to move as a unit when the type elements are set in a desired combination. For this purpose, the center disc 0 is mounted to revolve freely between a pair of collars 21 fixed to the shaft 18 and the discs R and L positioned to abut the opposite sides of said center disc C. Said discs R and L may have integrally formed with each extended hub or hollow shaft portions 251 and 24, respectively, which are slidably and rot Ltably supported on the shaft 18. Said hollow shaft portions 21 and 24 may be each provided with suitable hand wheels or knobs 25 and 25 respectively fastened to the extended ends of said shaft portions to facilitate the setting of the discs, as will hereinafter appear.

Each of the hand wheels preferably constructed to have a ring rim :35 made of a non-metallic material, such as fibre, baltelitef or the like material having heat insulating properties, and radially disposed set screws 25 extending through said rims. Said set screws serve as spokes for the Wheels and also as a fastening means for firmly securing said wheels to the hollow shafts 24 and 24 as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

The type elements 20 carried on the peripheral surface of each disc may comprise twenty-six letters of the alphabet uniformly spaced from each other, and to simplify the construction and decrease the cost of manu facture, said elements 20 are preferably made independent of the discs and fixedly secured in position in any suitable manner, as by pro viding dovetail grooves or spaces. 1f desired, one or more extra grooves may be provided for receiving demountably interchangeable type elemcnts (not shown) in the manner fully described in my aforementioned co-pending application, Serial No. 76,595.

To secure the discs against relative displacement after aligning the type elements 20 in a desired combination, any suitable inc-ans may be provided. As shown in F 2, 6 and 7, said means comprises a spider 26 supported to rotate on the hollow shaft 3%, said spider having spaced radially extending arms 27, 28 and 28 On the end 27 of the arm 27, there is movably mounted a clamping member 29 which may also serve to sup port a border type 30 for surrounding the aligned type elements 20 in the manner hereinafter described. The member 29 has a finger screw 31 threaded into the free end 29' thereof, said screw 31 being adapted to tighten against the exterior side of the disc L for releasably clamping discs R, L, C to gather, as shown in Fig. 2. To permit the member 29 to be raised out of engagement with the discs when the finger screw 31 is relcased, any suitable means such as a sliding pin and slot connection 32 is provided at the end 27 of the arm 27 and to facilitate raising said member from its normal effective clamping position, a suitable cam or rock shaft 32 may be journaled on member 29 over said pin and slot connection 32. The cam 33 which is adapted to engage on the underside of the member 29 may be provided with a suitable operating finger-piece extending outwardly from the arm 27 as shown in Fig. 5.

The arms 28 and 28 are arranged to engage with an adjustable stop 35 mounted on one of the bracket arms 14, as at 14 for limiting the rotary movement of said spider to facilitate the aligning of the type elements on the. discs and for fixedly securing the aligned elements to the frame 14 during t 1e printing operation as will hereinafter be explained. The stop 35 is adapted to sclectively engage either the arm 28 or the arm Ill) 28*, and, as will be seen from Figs. 1 and 7, when the spider is rotated rearwardly, the arm 28 will abut a sliding pin 36 mounted on the adjustable stop member 35, said pin 36 being provided with a finger-piece 37 where by it may be withdrawably entered into a hole 28 in said arm 28 for releasably locking the spider 26 to the stop member 35 and the frame 14;.

With the arm 28 locked to the stop member 35, the clamping member 29 which is provided with an opening 3O through which the type elements may be aligned with the border type 30 surounding said opening, is then positioned above the frame 14 so that the operator has an unobstructed view for the alignment setting operation of the type elements 20.

The apparatus 10, as shown in the drawing, is provided with three discs with which a desired combination of type letters, as, for example, HAB, may be set up and aligned as follows: The arm 28 is locked to the stop member and the clamping member 29 is raised to the position shown in Fig. 5 by rotating the finger-piece 3-l so that the discs L, C and R may be freely rotated on the shaft 18. The knob is then pulled to the left to move the disc L out of its normal abutting position against the disc C. The discs C and R are now rotated together by manipulating the knob 25 until the desired type letter A appears on the disc C beneath the opening 30. Before returning the knob to its normal position, it rotated until another desired type letter H aligns with said letter A. hen the knob 25" is pressed to slide the disc L back into its normal abuttirig' position against the disc C. The knob 25 is next pulled to the right for sliding the disc R out of its normal abutting position against the disc C. The disc B may now be rotated, free from the other discs, until the third desired type letter B appears below said opening 30 in alignment with the type letters, H and A, already set, thus completing the sequence of type letters forming the desired combination. The knob 25 is now pushed to slidingly return the disc R to its normal abutting position against the disc C. On manipulating the linger-piece 31-, the cam 33 rocked for lowering the member 29 into its effective clamping position and for projecting the type elements nan through the opening to align said eleiients with the type border 30. The linger screw 31 may now be tightened to clamp the discs together.

To bring the desired combination of aligned type letters HAB from their setting position into position for branding, embossing or printing the article or material M, resting on the raised surface 13 of the base 11, and gripped by members 13 the sliding pin is withdrawn from the hole 28 of the arm 28 and the discs rotated as a unit by means of finger-piece 34 until the end of the arm 28 abuts pin 36 where it is inserted into a hole 28 and locked to the stop 35. The arm 28 is designed to bring the aligned type elements 20 with the outlined border type 30 in proper position ready for evenly contacting with the material M on the platen 13. On applying pressure to the handle 19, the frame 14 is swung downwardly and the type letters are brought into contact with the article or material M. Upon releasing the handle 19, the frame will automatically re turn to its raised position through the action of spring 16 and the aligned type letters may then be brought back to their setting position by releasing the arm 28 from the slop member and rotating the discs and again locking the arm 28 to the stop member 35.

Where ordinary or plain printing is to be done, any suitable form of ink applying device (not shown) may be used to ink the type elements in any manner well understood in the art. Such device is preferably installed below the front side of the handles 1!) so that the type elements are inked as the discs are revolved as a unit on the shaft 18 during the rotation thereof from the setting position to the printing position as described above.

So that the apparatus 10 may be used for branding, embossing or applying lustrous letters, a suitable heating means for the type and border elements is provided. Said means ma comprise an electric heater unit 40 of any suitable construction, and as here shown forms a core fitted to extend through the hollow shaft 18, as shown in Fig. 2. Said heater unit is here seen to comprise a pair of spaced clip terminals 41 mounted on an insulated base 42 and one or more resistor elements -43 which are removably supported by said clip terminals. Conductor wires 46 connect with said clip terminals 41 and pass dlOUQ' an edge channeled groove 14 formed alon the edge of the frame lei. The ends 46 of said conductor wires may extend through an axial passage 15 provided in the shaft 15 and may be terminated by a receptacle 17* f" of a detachable fitting 47having a cap 47 which is adapted to connect with a suitable electric power source (not shown) by means of a portable conductor wire 48.

The member 29, discs C, R and L and shaft 18 are preferably made of copper, bronze, aluminum or other material having a relatively high heatconductivity so that the border and type elements are readily heated to the required working temperature by the unit 40.

1n branding or plain-embossing an article or material M, the unit -10 is first connected to the power source for heating the type letters which, after having been set in a de- Mid lli)

sired sequence and rotated into printing position, are forced against the article or material M by applying pressure to the handle 19 as described above.

By interposing a metallic foil or leaf of gold, silver or other metal or composition between the heated border and type elements, and the material M, lustrous letters may be stamped or printed thereon. For this purpose, a simple strip feeding mechanism I may be incorporated in the apparatus 10. In the form shown in the drawing, said mechanism comprises a pair of spools 5t) and 51 revolubly mounted on shafts and 53, respectively, which are suitably supported on hangers 1 L extending down from bracket arms 14". A supply of strip material 54 in form of a roll carried on the spool 50. Said strip material has one side thereof coated with a metallic foil (not shown) from which the lustrous letters are formed, said strip being fed between the type elements and the platen 13 with the coated side facing down. Any suitable strip material or metal foil such as is in commercial use may be employed.

Spaced rollers and 56 are supported from the hanger 14 preferably so as to extend below the normal level of the type elements for guiding the strip material across the discs and for holding it out of contact therewith when the frame 14 is in raised position. as shown in Fig. 2.

The strip 54, after use, may be wound on the spool 51 by rotating the spool shaft 53 by means of a crank arm The spool 50 carrying the supply material 54 is preferably held against free rotation on shaft by any suitable friction means in any well understood manner. Thus, the feeding mechanism F is manually operated and the advancing of the strip is elfcctive by simply rotating the crank arm 57 after each printing operation.

In using the invention, the portable conductor i8 is connected to an electric power source to heat the type elements on the disc. By raising the member 29 and manipulating the knobs 25R and 25L, as described above, the discs are set so that the desired combination of letters or other type elements appears under the opening 30 of the member :29. A briefcase or other article, such as sweatband 1i. then positioned on the platen l3 and grip )cd bv the members 13'. After lowering (it? member 2'2) and clamping the discs together therewith, the member 29 with the desired type elements is swung into printing position and the handle 19 is depressed. As the frame 1 descends, the type elements engage the strip material 54 to press the foil or coated do thereof against the sweatband M. The heat from the type and border elements causes the foil to adhere to the material in outline corresponding to the shape and design of the type and border elements.

To mark, print or emboss any articles of various thicknesses, it is desirable to provide suitable means whereby the aligned type and border elements may contact with the article evenly throughout. As seen from Fig. 3, the aligned type and border elements pivot about the shaft 15, so that the elements, when set in printing position are disposed to evenly contact with the upper surface of an article M having a definite thickness. \Vhen the ar ticle M is replaced by another of different thickness, the plane of contact of the type and border elements with the replaced article should be varied to conform with the change of level of the upper surface of the latter article to obtain the best printing results. To accomplish this purpose, the stop member is made adjustable as for example, by providing a slot and screw connection 35 for mounting said member on the frame 14. Thus, the adjusting stop may be set as shown in Fig. 7 to accommodate thin or thick material.

It will thus be seen that there is provided a device in which the several objects of this invention are achieved, and which is well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and various changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawing is to be interposed as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described our invention, we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1 1. An apparatus of the character described comprising a plurality of sets of type elements, means for su1')porting said sets of elements for movement relative to each other, means for selectively aligning the type elements of the various sets, means extending adjacent said elements for clamping said sets in an aligned position, means spaced from said elements for supporting an article, and means for bringing the aligned elements into contact with said article.

2. An apparatus of the. character described comprising a plinfality of sets of type elements, means for supporting said of elements for movement relative to each other, means for selectively aligning the type elements of the various sets, means extending adjacent said elements for clamping said sets in an aligned position, means spaced from said elements for supporting an article, clamping means for retaining said article to the supporting means, and means for bringing the aligned elements into contact with said article.

3. An apparatus of the character described comprising a plurality of sets of type elements, means for supporting said sets of elements for movement relative to each other, means for selectively aligning the type elements of the various sets, means extending ad acent sai d elements tor damping sald sets in an aligned position, means spaced trom article, and ans for adjusting; the printing pavilion ol' the aligned elements to conform to a-i'tiecs oi various thicknesses, as and for the pa pose described and specified.

it. in an aprairatus ot the characte' described a plurmity oi discs parrlielly mounted for movement relative to each other, type elements carried on, e; ch disc, a member for clamping said discs together, and a border type *arried by said member for outlining; maid elements.

In an apparatus of the character describe-d a plurality of discs, a shaft to parallelly mount said discs for movement relative to each other, type elements carried on the, peril heral surface of cflCl] rise, a releasable clamping); member for securing: said discs {tether with the elements aligned in a desired sequence, a border type carried by said member tor outlining said elements, and means for heating said type and border disposer within said shaft.

(3. in an appa 'atus of the character described a plurality of dis a shaft to parallelly nount said discs for movement relative to each other, type elements car iied on the peripheral surface of each disc, a releasably clamping member for securing said discs to gg'ethcr with the elements aligned in a desired equence, border type carried by said member for outlining said elemen; and means for manually feeding a strip over said aligned elements and border.

T. ln an apparatus of the character described a plurality of discs paralle ly mounted ior moven'ient relz'itive to car 1 other, type elements carried by each disc, means for alin'nit 'd elements, means extending adjacent said aligned elements for releasably chipping said discs together with said elerts aligned in a setting position, and

ans for limiting the movement of said d t'rom said setting, position into a printing: position.

It in an apparatus of the character dcscrihcd a plurality ot discs parallellv mountri'l for movement relative to each other. type elements carried by each disc, means for p ing said elements, means extending adcent said aligned elements for releasably mpine said discs together with said elen iuts aligned in a setting position, means for liniting the movement of said discs from said setting position to a printing position, and means for manually feeding a strip of foil over the ali ned elements.

9. A apparatus of the cht racter described comprising a plurality of type elements mounted for movement relative to each other, means for selectively setting said elements in 'nent while said elements are in the unobstructed view of the operator, means nor l'nally spaced from said elements adapted to support an article, means for manually movid aligned elements from said setting ill to a printing position, and means for r U the type elements and article into contao, as and tor the purpose described and s iecilied,

l0. ln a apparatus of the character described inehiding a plurality of type elements moun e l for moven'ient relative t0 each other,

neans for selectively setting said elements, movable means for gaging the setting alignizient of said elements, and means for releasalily locking said gaging means in unobstructed view of the operator for setting said elements.

11. In an apparatus of the character deicribed including a plurality of type elements seated for movement relative to each other, means tor selectively setting said elements, movable means for gaging the setting alignment of said elements, means for releasably l clll 3? said gaging means in unobstructed vv of the operator for setting said elements, ail means {or moving said gaging means and ill ned tvpe elements as a unit into a printing); position.

12. in an apparatus of the character described including a plurality of type elements mounted tor movement relative to each other, means for selectively setting said elements, movable means for gaging the setting); alignment of said elements, means for releasably locking said gaging means in unobstructed view of the operator for setting said elenlents, and means for locking said unit in position for printing.

1?. In an appa 'atus oi? the character described, a disc, type elements carried by the disc, means normally spaced from said disc for supp irting an article, pivoted means for bringing a type elem into contact with said article, and me; for adjusting); the printing position of the type elements to con-- form to articles of various thicknesses positioned on said supporting? means.

14. In an apparatus of the character described, a plurality oi type elements mounted for movement relative to each other, means for selectively setting said elrnients in aligniment, means for moving the aligned typo clements as a unit to a printing position, means for bringing said elements into contact with the surface of an article, and means for ad justing said elen'ients for printing in various planes whereby articles of different thicknesses may be printed.

15. In a device of the character desc ibed, the combination of a disc, type elements carried by said disc, means for heating said type elements, a handwheel for rotating said disc and elements, said wheel having a non-metallic rim portion and means for securing the rim to the disc.

16. In a device of the character described in combination with a heated disc carrying type elements a handwheel adapted to rotate said disc, said wheel having a non-metallic rim and spaced radially extending set screw means extending through the rim tor fastening the wheel to the disc.

17. In a printing device of the character described, in combination with a head having a plurality of type movably mounted thereon, and a platen mechanism for moving type into set-up position, means for moving the set-up type bodily relative to said head into printing position and means for moving said head relative to said platen.

18. In a printing device of the character described, a plurality o-t' type carrying elements, means for positioning said elements to bring selected type into a printing combination, and securing means for encompass ing said combination of type.

19. In a printing device of the character described, a plurality of type car yii'lg elements means for positioning said elements to bring selected type into a printing combination, and securing means for encompassing only said combination to retain said type sets in fixed position.

20. In a device for printing monograms in combination, means for setting up the characters of a monogram, and means to provide an ornamental character to said monogram, said ornamental means being mounted to encompass the characters of the monogram, and being operable to clamp the setting up means in fixed position.

21. In a printing device, a base, a printing head movably mounted on said base and having a plurality of printing means adjustable thereon. means for positioning sain printing means that the set up characters to be printed are directly in sight of the operator, an d means for moving the set-up characters bodily into printing position and means for moving said head relatively to said base.

22. In a printing device, a base, a printing head movable relative to said base and having" a plurality of printing means adjustable thereon, luca s for selectively positioning said printing means so that the set-up characters to be printed are ill predcterminrd position directly in sight of the operator, and means for moving the aligned set-up characters relatively to said head into juxtaposition to an a ticle to be imprinted.

23. In a printing device, a base, a printing head movable relative to said base and having a plurality oi printing means adjustable thereon. means for positioning said printing means directly in sight of the operator, and

means for bodily moving the positioned printing means relatively to said head into uxtaposition to an article to be imprinted.

24. In a printing device, a base, a printing head movable relative to said base and having a plurality of printing means adjustable thereon, means for selectively positioning said printing means so that the set-up characters to be printed are in prede ermined position directly in sightof the operator, and means for bodily moving the set-up characters a predetermined distance relatively to said head into juxtaposition to an article to be imprinted.

In a printing device, a base, a printing head movable relative to said base and having a plurality of printing means adjustable thereon, means for positioning said printing means so that the set-up characters to be printed are directly in sight of the operator, means for moving the setup characte into juxtaposition to an article to be printed, and stop means for defining the two positions.

In a printing device, a base, a printing head movable relative to said base and hav ing a plurality of printing means adjustable thereon, means for positioning said printing means so that the set-up characters to be printed are directly in sight of the operator. means for bodily positioning the set-up character into juxtaposition to an article to be printed, and adjustable stop means coacting with said printing means for defining said two positions.

27. In an apparatus of the character described including a printing head having a plurality of type elements mounted thereon for movement relative to said head and rela tive to each other, means for selectively setting said elements, and means for moving said set elements relative to said head a predctermined amount,

28. In an apparatus of the character described including a printing head having a plurality of type elements mounted thereon for movement relative to said head and relative to each other. means for selectively setting said elements, means for locking said elements in set position, and means for mov ing said locked elements relative to said head a predetermined amount.

In a printing device of the character described, in combination with a printing head having a plurality of type elements mounted thereon, mechanism for moving said type into up position on said head and means independent of movement of said head. for moving the set up type bodily relatively to said head to active position for printin In testimony whereof we aflix our signatures.

MAX A. G. LUEDTKF. HUGO HOFFMANN. 

